Lots of great standard features that are options in other manufacturers, such as air conditioning, electric door locks and windows, tilt wheel, CD player, cruise control, 8-way adjustable drivers seat, and dual front and side air bags.

I was originally shopping for a Spectra, but I found that I could negotiate a lower price for the larger, more plush Optima. (I paid $12,895 and they even threw in a couple of tanks of gas, free car washes and an oil change!)

My mechanic told me that parts are quite expensive for the KIA line, as there aren't many aftermarket parts available yet; although I haven't personally looked into this aspect.

21st Nov 2010, 09:56

I have a Kia Optima LX with 119000 miles on it. Bought it with a supposedly bad engine from broken timing belt; replaced that and the crank position sensor myself. The car runs smooth and quiet, and everything still works, even though the previous owner wasn't kind to it. These are Hyundai Sonatas in a different body style; if you hate these, then stay away from Hyundai Sonatas, and Santa Fe's for that matter, as they are all based on the same car.